How long does a full re-roof take?

A residential re-roof typically takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on size, pitch, complexity and access. The Ravenstone Mill re-roof was completed in 2 weeks including a full strip, structural work, membrane, battens, vented ridge and plain tile finish.

Do you replace trusses too?

Yes. Where the existing roof structure has failed or is not suitable for the new use of the building we design and fit new engineered timber trusses. On the Ravenstone Mill conversion we removed the old truss work and installed new trusses before the roof was re-covered.

What is a vented ridge?

A vented ridge is a continuous strip of ventilation at the very top of the roof. It allows warm, moisture-carrying air to leave the loft and prevents condensation forming on rafters, membrane and insulation. It is now standard for any habitable roof space.

Do you strip everything or overlay?

On a genuine end-of-life roof we strip back to structure. Overlaying tile on top of failed underlay only hides the problem and adds weight. On Ravenstone Mill the roof was stripped back so we could inspect and replace the trusses, upgrade to breathable membrane and lay a proper plain tile finish.

Do you handle scaffolding?

Yes. Every scaffold is quoted, erected and inspected by our own trusted scaffolding contractor before we start. It is included in the written quote so there are no surprises on site.

What warranty do you offer?

For guarantee details on your job, ask us when you enquire and we will confirm the specifics in writing. We are fully insured, and materials such as tile and membrane carry the manufacturer warranty on top, typically 15 to 30 years.

Ravenstone Mill Re-Roof Case Study

Side elevation of the finished plain tile roof at Ravenstone Mill

01/Project brief

Project brief

A mill that was ready to be a home again.

An old Ravenstone mill, mid-conversion to residential. The existing roof was tired, the trusses had reached the end of their life and the felt underlay had gone brittle. The brief was a full strip, a new structural roof and a plain tile finish that would suit the building for the next century.

2 weeks Plain tile New trusses

02/Project specification

Specification

The specification.

Everything specified, sourced and signed off before scaffolding went up.

Finished plain clay tile roof at Ravenstone Mill — Project card
Ravenstone Mill Conversion
2 weeks on site · Full strip and re-roof · Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire

01 The brief

ClientPrivate residential, mill conversion LocationRavenstone, Buckinghamshire TypeFull strip and re-roof Duration2 weeks on site

02 The roof

TilePlain clay tile, hand laid UnderlayType II breathable membrane, 25 year warranty VentilationContinuous vented ridge, dry-fix TrussesNew engineered timber trusses, SW pine

03 Sign-off

StructureFull strip back to structure, retrussed RecordWritten photographic record RecordDaily photographs, written sign-off

Ravenstone Mill roof stripped back to structure before re-roof

Completed plain tile re-roof at Ravenstone Mill

03/ Before & after

Two weeks. One roof.

Before After

LocationRavenstone, Bucks

MaterialPlain clay tile

Timeframe2 weeks on site

ScopeStrip, retruss, re-tile

03/The mill as we found it

Before the strip

The mill as we found it.

How the roof looked the day we arrived. Moss-bound tiles, ivy in the verges and chimney brickwork long past its service life.

Ravenstone Mill seen from the field on arrival, with its original tiled roof still in place — The mill on arrival, original roof intact

Original brick chimney stacks rising above the moss-covered mill roof — Old brick chimney stacks

Ivy growing over the stone verge beside the moss-covered old tiles — Ivy over the verge, moss on the tiles

Moss covering the worn plain clay tiles of the original roof — Moss across the old plain tiles

Moss and ivy along the worn ridge of the old mill roof — Worn ridge, moss and ivy

The full moss-covered mill roof before the strip, seen from the scaffold — The full roof, moss-bound

04/What we did

Work breakdown

How the mill came back to life.

Five clear stages, tracked and photographed daily, signed off in writing at the end.

Breathable membrane and battens laid, vented ridge fitted

Stage 01 · Day 1

01 Survey

Site survey and structural assessment.

A full walk-over of the existing roof, a structural check of the trusses from inside the mill, and a written report on what needed to change before the roof could carry a modern plain tile finish.

02 Strip out

Full strip back to structure.

Scaffold up, tile off, felt out. Every layer of the old roof was stripped so the building could be assessed clean and the new roof built from the trusses up.

03 New trusses

New timber trusses fitted.

New engineered SW pine trusses fabricated to spec and lifted into place. Bracing, wall plates and truss clips fitted so the structure was correct for a habitable roof space.

04 Membrane and ridge

Breathable membrane, battens and vented ridge.

Type II breathable membrane laid over the trusses, tanalised treated battens set to the correct gauge and a continuous dry-fix vented ridge fitted the length of the roof.

05 Tile and sign-off

Plain tile laid and finished.

Plain clay tile hand laid to a consistent coursing. Verges, eaves and ridge finished, the site cleared, scaffold down and the roof signed off in writing.

05/Detail gallery

Detail gallery

The finish, up close.

Finished plain tile roof at Ravenstone Mill — Finished roof

Side elevation showing the full new roof — Side elevation

Verge and dry-fix ridge detail — Ridge detail

Mid-strip of the mill roof back to structure — Mid-strip

06/Craft note

Why we made that choice

Why a vented ridge matters here.

The original mill roof was laid with a traditional bedded ridge over old bituminous felt. That combination is fine for a cold, unused mill loft. It is not fine for a habitable home.

Once a building is being lived in, the loft space carries moist air rising from bathrooms, kitchens and radiators below. Without ventilation at the top of the roof, that moisture condenses on the underside of the underlay, then drips onto the insulation and rafters. That is how a brand new roof can start rotting from the inside in five years.

Specifying a breathable membrane with a continuous vented ridge lets that moist air leave the building at the highest point, keeps the timber dry, and protects the insulation. It is the reason this roof will still be sound in a hundred years, not fifteen.

07/What we used

Materials

What went on this roof.

Hover any material for the full spec on the Ravenstone Mill build.

Plain clay tile on the finished Ravenstone Mill roof

01

Traditional finish

Ravenstone Mill: complete re-roof.

A mill that was ready to be a home again.

The specification.

Ravenstone Mill Conversion

Two weeks. One roof.

The mill as we found it.

How the mill came back to life.

Site survey and structural assessment.

Full strip back to structure.

New timber trusses fitted.

Breathable membrane, battens and vented ridge.

Plain tile laid and finished.

The finish, up close.

Why a vented ridge matters here.

What went on this roof.

Plain tile

New trusses

Breathable membrane

Vented ridge

The mill, from every angle.

London box gutters & reclaimed slate

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